FROM KANDY TO CALTUKA. 425 
^here is another kind of connexion between a male and 
female, denominated heene wasse^ In this union, the 
female remains in her own house, or the house of her 
father, and cohabits with one or more males as she pleases. 
There is no disgrace attending such conduct. By this 
means, she does not lose a right to a share of the property 
of her family. The man who cohabits with her she may 
turn away at pleasure : he has no claim upon her or her 
property. In allusion to the rapidity with which a man, 
who has formed a beene wasse connexion, may be dismissed, 
the Kandyans say, he should always be provided with a 
staff and a lantern. The progeny of a beene wasse con- 
nexion never speak of their father ; they assume a station 
in society suitable to the rank of their mother. 
According to the information we obtained, the exposure 
of female infants is a frequent occurrence in some of the 
districts through which we passed. When an infant is 
born, the male-parent proceeds to the residence of an astro- 
loger, who is consulted regarding the future fortune of the 
new-born. The fee given to an astrologer on such an oc- 
casion, in general, consists of one cJially, a copper coin, 
value about a farthing, and forty betel-leaves. The stars 
are then consulted, according to the gibberish of the pre- 
tended wise man. Should the astrologer discover that the 
infant has been born under a lucky star, and that it will 
be fortunate through life, the parent returns home, and 
reports the circumstance to the mother, who commences to 
nurse her offspring. A different fate awaits an infant 
which is supposed to have come into the world under the 
influence of an unlucky planet or star. The old woman 
who assisted at the birth of the babe, sometimes accom- 
panied by the father, proceed to the jungle, where they 
dig a small hole in the earth : here they deposit the infant, 
which is in general soon devoured by jackals. We were 
